Colorado Coal Production Dipped in 2018

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) — Production at Colorado coal mines dipped slightly last year from 2017 levels.

The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety says the state's six producing mines, all located in western Colorado, produced a total of about 14.3 million tons in 2018.

That compares to about 15.2 million tons the agency reported in 2017.

The state says that as of the end of 2018, 1,160 coal miners worked in Colorado, up slightly from 1,119 at the end of 2017.

According to the federal Energy Information Administration, Colorado ranked 10th as of 2017 in coal production, with Wyoming far out front in output that year, at more than 316 million tons.